WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah released the following statement today:

“The situation is extremely dire for the tens of thousands of innocent people in northern and central Iraq under assault by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Working in support of the Government of Iraq, the United States is providing humanitarian aid to those in need, particularly the men, women, and children trapped on Mount Sinjar without food, water, and shelter.

“To help manage and coordinate the U.S. government’s humanitarian aid effort and responding to the request of Ambassador Beecroft, I am deploying a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Iraq. This team will work closely with local officials, the international community, and humanitarian relief agencies to identify needs and expedite life-saving assistance to those caught in the midst of violence.

“Our disaster response experts are working hand-in-glove with our counterparts in the U.S. military and the Department of State. Our assistance is already being distributed by the World Food Program to people from all of Iraq’s diverse communities caught in the middle of the conflict.

“For the first time in our history, USAID’s disaster response experts are concurrently managing four large-scale humanitarian responses around the world: Iraq, Syria, South Sudan, and West Africa’s Ebola outbreak. In this time of unprecedented need, USAID remains committed to reaching vulnerable populations, providing help, and saving lives.

“For those who would like to help those affected by disasters around the world, I encourage you to make a monetary donation to a reputable humanitarian organization already working on the ground. Nothing will get there faster or help more.”